Border policeman caught on camera kicking 9-year-old Palestinian

B'Tselem clip appears to show two officers roughing up child in West Bank city of Hebron

Ilan Ben Zion, a reporter at the Associated Press, is a former news editor at The Times of Israel. He holds a Masters degree in Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University and an Honors Bachelors degree from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, Jewish Studies, and English.

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem published a video Monday that appears to show a Border Police officer kick a Palestinian child.

The incident, which occurred near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron, was filmed by a B’Tselem activist.

According to text accompanying the video published by the group, the officer ambushed 9-year-old Abd ar-Rahman Buqran, grabbed him forcefully and asked, “Why are you causing a ruckus?”

A second officer then joined the first and kicked the boy as he was pinned to the ground. They then released the boy and left.

There is no indication of what occurred before the scene contained in the two-minute video clip. According to B’Tselem the activist began filming after he saw the police officer lying in wait behind a wall.

The Border Police responded to the publication of the video, saying it regards the incident with “great severity” and “condemns the police conduct as contrary to its values.” It said the incident was an exception and “does not represent the work of Border Police for Israel’s security.”

The Border Police have opened an investigation into the incident and will publish findings in the next few days.

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